New London ― About 30 Connecticut College students used chains to lock themselves into the school’s main administration building late Sunday night in protest of the resignation of former Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion Rodmon King.

As of Monday night, the students continued to occupy Fanning Hall.

Dozens of additional students met Monday afternoon at the entrance of the college to demonstrate in solidarity with the students participating in the lock-ins.

“It shows strength in the campus community. They don’t want words. They want action,” said sophomore Owen Avery, who was protesting outside.

The students have a list of demands that includes the resignation of President Katherine Bergeron, additional funding for the equity and inclusion division and a transparent search for the next college president.

The protesting students were chanting, “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Kathy B. has got to go!”

Bergeron said in a Monday morning email to the college community that the college supports the students’ right to peaceful protest and that members of the administration “continue to pursue constructive dialogue with the student leaders as we address the important concerns they have raised.”

Early Monday some students learned their classes have been canceled or would be held remotely.

Victor Arcelus, the dean of students at the college, voiced his support for the students’ right to protest.

He said he had not seen Conn students protest “to this degree and level of organization.”

Arcelus said, “This is a critical inflection point for the college,” and added, “I’m committed to the change we need.”

The Sunday night takeover

The students had tried to enter other administration buildings Sunday night but found them locked. They were, however, able to enter Fanning Hall, which houses the President’s office.

“Do you know what’s going on?” a Connecticut College Campus Safety officer asked his coworker as she arrived on shift at 11:30 p.m. Sunday night.

“Everything,” she replied.

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The lock-in began in the West Campus parking lot about 11 p.m. where dozens of students began honking their car horns in order to distract campus safety officers as others entered Fanning Hall to lock themselves in for what they say is up to five days.

Students said they planned to initially take over three administrative buildings including Fanning Hall, Becker House which is home to the Office for Advancement and Horizon House, the college admissions office. They were locked out of the latter two Sunday evening but Fanning, which also houses lecture halls, was open.

Originally, 65 students went to the three buildings but college officials told the occupying students Sunday evening that Horizon House could not be occupied, due to concerns regarding confidential student records.

Fire officials met with students Monday to provide them with protocols, in case of an emergency. Fanning Hall initially was locked with chains on Sunday evening but on Monday students removed them, due to fire safety concerns.

A smaller group successfully entered Fanning Hall, according to sophomore Ian Hopkins. As of 11:14 p.m., 28 students were inside the building where they had used chains to lock the handles of the doors on its three access points.

“Campo is everywhere. We’re inside a random classroom. They’re chasing students out of buildings. The situation here is crazy,” Hopkins said, referring to the nickname students use to describe campus safety officers.

The students made their way outside to figure out what was going on as they heard the horns. Some went to the West parking lot, and others to Fanning Hall, where lights were on early Monday morning.

John Cramer, the vice president of communications at the college said in a statement that “College leadership supports the right to free expression and peaceful protest, and will continue to pursue constructive dialogue with students as well as faculty and staff as we address the important concerns they have raised.”

Students have demanded Bergeron resign since earlier this month when King stepped down due to a planned college fundraiser at the Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Fla., which he said had a reputation as anti-Black and antisemitic. King later complained about Bergeron’s “bullying behaviors” in a letter to the college’s Board of Trustees.

The fundraiser was canceled, but students continued to protest and at least 120 of 168 faculty members signed a letter to the trustees urging them to begin searching for a replacement for Bergeron.

Hundreds of students packed a large lecture hall on the college’s South Campus Saturday afternoon to discuss their plans to “take over” faculty buildings. The movement titled, ‘Occupy Conn Coll’ is coordinated by the Student Voices for Equity.

In that meeting, students divided into four different groups depending on their responsibilities during the lockout.

Group one was in charge of supplying goods, group two organized the goods, group three was in charge of bringing goods into academic buildings and media publicity and group four were the students designated to occupy the buildings.

“The purpose of Occupy Conn Coll is to put pressure on them,” said junior Shamar Rule, speaking about the Board of Trustees' ongoing investigation into King’s resignation and complaints against Bergeron.

t.wright@theday.com